Welcome to Waverly Child Care and Preschool, a United Way Agency

The purpose of the Child Care Center is to provide quality child care to Waverly area children ages 2 weeks to 10 years of age within a safe, secure, caring environment; teaching social skills and enhancing life long learning experiences. Please visit the Center whenever you wish. The staff welcomes an opportunity to talk about the Center. The Center Board of Directors meets monthly and makes policies carried out by the well-qualified staff, Assistant Directors and Executive Director. Parents are encouraged to serve as advisors to the Board of Directors in one or more of the following areas: Finance, Building and Grounds, Program, Volunteer Services, and Health Services.

History 

Waverly Day Care Center opened on August 31, 1970, with seven children enrolled, increasing to 18 by January, 1971, and currently serves over 300 children annually. The Center is now licensed by the Department of Human Services for a maximum number of 60 children present at any one time. Land was purchased from the city in 1978 with funds from individuals, groups, and city and county (Federal) Revenue Sharing. Children from the Center helped in the Groundbreaking Ceremony on September 5, 1980. The new building was completed and ready February 27, 1981. Volunteers helped with moving. Waverly Child Care and Preschool became the new name to reflect the preschool programming and to indicate that care is for children.

Mission Statement

To provide a safe and nurturing environment by professional staff for quality early childhood/elementary development and education for the enhancement of lifelong learning experiences. Guiding Principles At Waverly Child Care and Preschool, we believe that early childhood education should:

1. Appreciate each child's uniqueness, thus enhancing the child's self-image.

2. Encourage maximum development of the many potential gifts, interests, and abilities of each child by exposure to a worthy sampling of experiences.

3. Provide an educational and physical environment that facilitates productive and creative thinking and learning.

 4. Provide a planned comprehensive program designed to develop intellectual, emotional, social, and physical abilities of each child.

5. Enhance a lifelong positive attitude toward learning.

Our preschool program is based on the philosophy that:

1. Most children can learn the skills necessary for success in school; success in learning enhances the child's self image.

2. Developmentally based programs help children learn at their own rate and level.

3. Children learn best in safe and secure surroundings with reliable physical care.

4. The development of social, intellectual, physical, and emotional skill areas are all vitally important.

5. Children share an intense curiosity and readiness to learn. They benefit from being immersed in curriculums that are oriented toward problem-solving and real-life, hands-on learning experiences.

Enrollment

The following enrollment procedures have been established to offer your child maximum protection and to comply with the Iowa State Licensing Standards.

1. Parents must pay the annual registration fee, complete the intake forms and sign a consent form for emergency medical and dental care for their child. The registration fee is non-refundable.

2. Each child must have a physical examination before attending the Center, annual updates are required. Please inform the Center of any changes as they occur. School age children may submit a copy of the latest school physical and a statement from the parent or legal guardian that certifies that the child is free of communicable disease and specifies any allergies, medications, and acute or chronic conditions. The statement from the parents shall be submitted annually thereafter.

3. All forms must be completed and returned one working day prior to the time the child can attend. A short conference will be held with the parents at the time the forms are returned.

4. A parent should accompany children for their first visit to the Center. Children will move into a group setting with greater ease if they have had a relaxed tour of the Center before they are left there for the first time.

Non-Discriminatory Policy

Waverly Child Care and Preschool abides by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992 and does not discriminate in program services for reasons of handicapping conditions, race, color, sex, religion, or national origin.

 Fees

Waverly Child Care and Preschool is a private non-profit community agency. Fees are charged in relation to costs. The Center has a sliding fee scale for parents who, because of circumstances, are unable to pay the full cost of our service. We are anxious to assist parents. Waverly Shell-Rock Area United Way and various organizations and individuals provide funds for this assistance.

The Center also participates in several government funded programs. Information is available in the Center office. Income verification is requested from parents who apply for a reduced rate. Time needed for childcare is reserved by the month, before the first school day of the month. Reservation forms are available in the Center office. The reservation policy ensures a fair distribution of openings to all children. The bar-code system will calculate your fees according to your child's attendance.

Emergency - Building Failure Policy

In the event of building failure (i.e. fire), policy at Waverly Child Care and Preschool is that all of the children and staff will immediately be evacuated to West Cedar Elementary School, located directly South of the Center at 221 15th Street NW. The telephone number is (319) 352-2754. Parents will be notified of the evacuation as soon as all of the children and staff have been safely moved. This notification will be made through local radio and television stations. An attempt will be made to telephone all parents.

 If it should be necessary to close the Center due to inclement weather, the announcement will be made on local radio and television stations.